Patience pays off...

Just 4 days ago Gabriel decided he would try to swallow something that he chewed up. He has been trying so hard, and God has been his strength thru everything. Gabe is now trying and succeeding in swallowing almost everything he chews up. For those who don't know my son well, he has been eating only puree'd foods for the past 9 months or so- which to my husband and I was a miracle in itself, and we were extremely thankful just for that. He has been tube fed and had texture issues since he was only a few months old, we think it was due to starting baby food and enzymes at only one month old for CF. But no one will truly know the definite cause. Anyway, we have had many many frustrating days, and sometimes sad days; when we watch other parents just sit their child down and hand them some food and they just chew and swallow, it looks like a breeze... We envy it sometimes, but never gave up. Gabe has been trying so many foods since he started eating the purees but he would "pocket" the chewed up food in his cheek and later spit it out, this has been going on for months and months. There is a HUGE difference between a "picky" eater, and a kid that just down right doesn't like food. We have an overwhelming feeling of joy when we see our children eat. It was such a change to have our daughter, who is only 7 months old, feed herself and actually be enjoying it, we were in awe, this was brand new to us. And it is a move of God to see our almost 3 year old son doing the same thing! Patience truly has paid off, and of course having faith in God to give our children the desire to eat and thrive every step of the way. Gabriel still eats slowly, but like I said, it's only been 4 days. It's a breakthrough we have been waiting for since he had a feeding tube placed when he was 6 months old. God always knows when to show His face and encourage us. I catch myself tearing up when I watch him swallow food, something I'm sure most parents don't even think twice about... No matter the obsticles we have been through, we feel SOOO blessed, and we wouldn't trade our life for anything but what God has given us.